Friday, January 01, 2016

Opening of the Holy Doors in the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Opening of the Holy Doors ceremony in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Hong Kong

As darkness fell across the city of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon stood in the flickering light of a phalanx of torch bearers in the grounds of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to formally inaugurate the Jubilee of Mercy in the diocese on December 12.

Faithful gather together with their Bishops for the Opening of the Holy Doors

Beginning with a plea to God to have mercy on the world and its people, the bishop of the diocese prayed to the Lord who forgives faults and heals infirmities, as well as human weakness.

John Cardinal Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong presides over the liturgy

Cardinal Tong prayed, “Glory to you, Lord, merciful and kind, slow to anger and abounding in mercy,” before calling on all present to fix their eyes on the merciful face of Jesus.

The Holy Doors of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Hong Kong

Then, as Pope Francis did when he opened the Jubilee of Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the bishop of Hong Kong inaugurated the Extraordinary Jubilee to open to us, all men and women, the door of God’s mercy.

John Cardinal Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong opens the Holy Doorsduring the liturgy held on 8 December 2015

He described the moment as a prelude to the profound experience of grace and reconciliation that awaits the Church this year, praying to God, the author of true freedom, who desires to gather the whole human race into one people unshackled from the chains of slavery, to make the Church a brilliantly shining sacrament of salvation.

Bishops, deacons and Priests of the Diocese brought their faithful together as the Jubilee Year of Mercy began

As the sweet aroma of incense swirled through the gathering in the blustery breeze, the bishop of the diocese walked in solemn procession with his ministers.

"The Home of the Church, the Gateway to Heaven"

Beneath the door, the words, The Home of the Church, the Gateway to Heaven, have been inscribed in Chinese and Latin, inviting people to pass through in search of repentance and forgiveness, as an expression of trust in the mercy of God.

- Sunday Examiner

Newly baptised opens the Gate of Mercy in China

In the city of Tian Jin, China, 641 newly baptized in 2015, together with the community of the faithful opened the doors of the Cathedral to begin the Jubilee Year of Mercy. As a sign of communion with the Universal Church and following the request of Pope Francis, pastoral initiatives focused on Mercy are launched in the diocese. Service to the poor and needy, visiting the sick and elderly are givein priority